The Rochesterian in Your Inbox:

A survey puts Rochester in the bottom 25 of of 189 cities when it comes to the religiousness of the population.

Gallup found 29 percent of Rochester residents very religious, meaning “religion is an important part of their daily life and that they attend religious services every week or almost every week.” Twenty-eight percent somewhat religious, meaning “religion is important in their lives but that they do not attend services regularly, or that religion is not important but that they still attend services.” Forty-three percent not are religious, saying religion is not important to their lives and they don’t attend services.

In the U.S. as a whole, 40 percent identified themselves as very religious and 29 percent as not religious.

Most of the religious cities were in the South, with the exception of a couple cities in Utah. Albany, New York’s state capital, was in the bottom ten. (There’s got to be a joke there somewhere.)

I’m somewhat surprised. We’re an atheist family, but it seems like the majority of the people around us in Penfield are religious to the extent that they mention their churches, etc. on a semi-regular basis.

I would like to know where these statistics come from? I never get any surveys in the mail! Besides as far as religion is concerned who wants to be part of that? The statistics should be low. Religion is just a bunch of rules and regulations. What everyone needs is a relationship with Jesus Christ, He is the only way to God the Father and everlasting life.

For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. (John 3:16)

The good news of Jesus Christ is more than just facts to believe. It is more than just repeating a prayer or doing good works. We must turn away from our sinful nature; Turn to what is good, and live Godly lives; Love your neighbor and do what is right! The truth is what will set you free!

Rachel, you usually have a pretty good nose for news, but you guys got beaten to the punch by YNN on the Wayne School District story. Wayne first has the audacity to overtax property owners for several years, then hides the overage in part by creating fake purchase orders that are uncovered by a state audit. And for the final coupe de grace, the district shuts a YNN photographer out of the Thursday, March 28th school board meeting where the board would have had the first face-to-face opportunity to explain themselves to the public. Who’s running the district there – the reincarnation of Tricky Dick Nixon?

If not surprising; this is at least ironic given Rochester and the region’s religious history. It’s the birthplace of Spiritualism; and an important part of the church supported abolition and women’s suffrage movements. And, it is a short drive from Palmyra, where the Mormon faith was born. And now in modern times it is the birthplace of Spiritus Christi Church,a Catholic faith community that broke with the Roman Catholic Church over its strict rules relating to women’s priesthood, acceptance of gay unions and open communion.

Louis: While you make strong and valid points, I’m not as surprised. Spirtualism is a far cry from orthodox Christianity. Susan B. Anthony was Quaker and attended the Unitarian Church frequently in Rochester, becoming less religious as she got older. While the Mormon faith was “born” nearby, it wasn’t until it got to Utah that it really flourished. Combined with our well-educated and relatively affluent population, it isn’t very surprising. It is interesting but not surprising to me. Of course you are perfectly welcome to your own views.